Coronation honour is a family tradition for Bridge of Cally's Charles Dunphie
11.05.2023 - 22:01
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
In 1953, Major General Sir Charles Dunphie watched over Queen Elizabeth II as she was crowned Great Britain’s monarch at Westminster Abbey.
And his grandson has miraculously followed in his footsteps by standing on guard in the same holy church for the King’s coronation - 70 years later.
Bridge of Cally native Charles Dunphie (52) was carrying out his duty as an Archer in The King’s Bodyguard for Scotland as millions around the world witnessed history on Saturday, May 6.
The Royal Company of Archers, The King’s Bodyguard for Scotland is a ceremonial unit that serves as the Sovereign’s bodyguard in Scotland — a role that dates back to the 17th century.
Charles’ grandfather was a distinguished WWII soldier and carried out the most important role seven decades earlier as Her Majesty’s Bodyguard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms - standing behind the Queen as her lead protector.
So it left Charles, who lives with his family near Blairgowrie, in shock when he was hand-picked for the prestigious ceremonial duty at the coronation of King Charles III.
Speaking to the PA he said: “My grandfather was in the Gentlemen of Arms at the Queen’s coronation in 1953.
“So from a family perspective we have been hugely fortunate that, by pure coincidence, we have a had a member of the family in each of the two coronations.
“He was a soldier who fought in WWII and left just after the war after over 25 years’ service at that stage.”
Fourth-generation soldier Charles, like his grandfather, served in the Regular Army including operational service in Bosnia, Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone and Iraq over an 18-year career.
He finished as a senior instructor, training the Army’s next generation of young commanders at the Royal Military Academy